Empowered Witnesses: Living by the Holy Spirit

Devotional

Sermon Summary

Sermon Clips


moments before the ascension acts chapter 1 verse 8 records these words spoken by jesus to his disciples jesus says but you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you you will be my witnesses in jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. [00:00:16] (18 seconds)


Jesus' response directs their focus from a specific event that they were expecting to take place, the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, and refocuses them on the task at hand with one of the most memorable verses in the book of Acts. [00:02:57] (16 seconds)


What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word evangelism? For me, often the first thing that pops into my mind is an awkward conversation, scrambling for the right words to say after having walked up to somebody sitting alone on a bench and asking them if they know anything about Jesus. [00:04:41] (17 seconds)


But much like Jesus did with his disciples, let's redirect our thinking. Without placing any more or less significance on a particular method of evangelism, what's important for us to recognize is as followers of Christ, we aren't to be reliant on our own ability. See, Jesus' words point to a promise for us as followers, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we receive when we surrender our lives to Christ, a power that we receive when we come to Christ and deny ourselves. [00:05:16] (37 seconds)


Jesus said, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And second, you will be my witnesses. You see, the receiving of His Spirit wasn't just power for power's sake. It was for a purpose, to empower gospel witness. In the Greek, the word witness is martus. [00:06:12] (24 seconds)


It's the root from which we get our English word martyr. Now, when we hear the word martyr, it's pretty easy for our minds to jump right to worst-case scenarios. Someone who is killed because of their faith in Christ. Yes, scripture does give examples of those who are put to death specifically because of their proclamation of the gospel of Jesus. [00:06:35] (21 seconds)


So, while martyrdom was a possible result, Jesus' statement points us towards a bigger concept of witness, the idea of being an uncompromising testimony, one who confirms the truth of something or someone. You and I are witnesses of Christ and his gospel message. [00:07:08] (21 seconds)


While the Spirit coming to dwell within us is a promise for all of us who follow Christ, something that happens when we make the decision to surrender our lives to Him, choosing to live in that power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is a daily surrendering, a moment-by-moment decision. [00:08:18] (19 seconds)


You see, we're called to be an uncompromising testimony from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. That's in our homes, our neighborhoods, our schools, our workplaces. We're called to be an uncompromising testimony in every aspect of our life. [00:08:49] (24 seconds)


You will receive power and you will be my witnesses scattered both near and far from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Follow me. [00:09:22] (16 seconds)


Ask a question about this sermon